Cotton-working apparatus



Dec. 1 1, 1928.

| w. PENNEY ET AL COTTQN WORKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 26, 1924 De. 11, 192& 1,694,950;

' I L W. PENNEY ET AL COTTON WORKING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1924 4" J i II II ll Dec. 11, 1928.

L. W. PENNEY ET AL COTTON WORKING APPARATUS Filed y 26; 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet L F- L m ml wrl pimi 4 Sheets-Sheet I L. W. PENNEY ET AL COTTON WORKING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1924 Dec. 11, 1928.

Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

LOB-EN W. PENNEY, OF NEWTON HIGHLANDS, AND HERBERT E. CHILD, 0F NEWTON i UPIPER FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO SACO-LOWELL SHOPS, OF BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

COTTON -WORKI1\TG APPARATUS.

Application filed July 26,

This invention relates to the preliminary steps of working raw cotton into the form of yarn or thread. Accordin to the present practice the first step in this process consists in opening the bales of cotton and then throwing the cotton into a bale-breaker, a certain mixing of the different grades of cotton usually being made at this stage of the process. *rom the bale breaker the cotton is transferred to one or more opening machines which break up the bunches of cotton and open the fiber. The cotton so treated is next subjected to a series of picking operations in machines which work the cotton into the form of a lap. Frequently, also, it is necessary to work the laps together in a machine, such as an evener lapper which will average the irregularities in individual laps and produce a lap of very even and uniform character. These finished laps are then delivered to a carding machine-which works the cotton intothe form of a sliver. It has always been considered necessary heretofore to feed cotton to a carding machine in the form of a lap in order to produce a sliver having the requisite uniformity and evenness, and it is primarily for this purpose that the cotton is worked into the form-of a lap'and so much care is taken to produce laps of even thickness.

The present invent-ion aims to simplify the process of working raw cotton into the form of a sliver, to expedite this operation, to simplify the apparatus heretofore required for this purpose, to devise a mechanism for performing these steps which will be more automatic than an heretofore available, and generally to effect economies in this process.

It is also an object of the, invention to eliminate the necessity for the lapping operations and to devise a mechanism for feeding loose cotton to a carding machine n such a manner that a substantially uniform sliver will be produced. 7

The invention involves both a novel organization of apparatus and a novel arrangement for feeding carding machines, it being understood, however, that many of the featuresof the invention may be used independently of each other.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description 1924. Serial No. 728,496.

.ravel of the cotton;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the line 44, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in cross-section, showing certain parts of the mecha nisms for distributing the cotton and feed ing it to the carding machines;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view. on the line 7-7, Fig. 5; 1

Fig.8 is a side elevation of certain of the parts of the cotton feeding mechanism showing their relationship to thG'lOllS of the carding machine Fig. 9 isa plan view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the Inech anism for driving the feed .rolls shown in Fig. 8.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a. series of carding. machines, mechanism which prepares the cotton for delivery to the carding machines, and means for automatically feeding and distributing cotton to said machines. Inasmuch as cots ton is the material most commonly handled by the mechanism shown, such material will be hereinafter referred to as cotton,although it will be understood that this term is intended to include other fibrous textile materials which can be handled in substantially the same manner as cotton.

The preparation of the cotton. includes the operation of bale breaking and opening, which operations may be performed with the aid of any usual on, convenient bale breaking and opening machinery. In Figs. 1 and 2 a cotton opener of a common commercial type is indicateddiagrammatically at 2. As many of these openers may be teeth 6 extending downwardly from the lower reach of the belt close to, but out of 1 contact with, the floor of the guideway 4 so that they drag the cotton along over the surface of said floor.

The floor of the guideway is provided with a series of openings or holes 8 through which the cotton may drop into short hoppers or chutes 9. These chutes guide the cotton on to a series of distributing belts 10, four of said belts being shown in Fig. 1, and each belt supplying a line of carding machines 12. Preferably the carding machines are arranged in pairs with the individual machines of each pair located back to back, as is the custom. Each chute preferably contains two feed rolls 13, Fig. 4, located side by side and arranged to revolve in opposite directions, and a rapidly revolving picker roll 14 is located just below and between the rolls 13, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The picker roll is driven at a suitable speed to enable it to exert a further opening action on the cotton to loosen the fiber and render it light and flufly.

The conveyor belt 10 is similar to the belt 5 and is best shown in Fig. 5. It carries teeth 15, similar to the teeth 6, and the lower reach of the belt travels in a guideway or trough 16, this portion of the belt being supported on rails 17. Each conveyor 10 delivers cotton to the feeding mechanisms of the series of carding machines which it supplies. The feeding mechanism for each carding machine includes an upright hopper 20 which is open at both top and bottom, as clearly shown in the drawings, and communicates directly with a hole 22 formed in the bottom of the guideway 16. Consequently, as cotton is moved along the floor of the guideway by the distributing conveyor 10, it will drop through the openings 22 into the hoppers 20 of the several machines supplied by said conveyor, filling the hoppers in succession, and thereafter acting automatically to keep these hoppers full. If desired, the guideway 4 and belt 10 can be increased in width and run lengthwise of the card. insteadof cross-wise, as shown. This is of particular importance when feeding a large number of "cards from one belt.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, attention is called to the fact that the lattice 3 is intended to carry a greater supply of cotton to the trough 4 than is necessary to feed the distributing conveyors 10, so that an ample supply for these conveyors will be ensured. at all times. The surplus cotton drops through a l1ole 25 at the end of the trough 4 and falls into a chute or suction pipe 26 through which a strong current of air is created by means of a suction blower 28. The distributing conveyors 10 also are supplied with an excess of cotton, and the surplus cotton which is carried to the ends of the conveyors falls through holes 30 into the chute 26. The cotton is carried through this chute to a condenser 27, and a chute 31 may be provided to conduct the cotton discharged from the condenser, by gravity,

back into the feed hopper of the opener 2.

It will thus be observed that the entire delivery of the cotton from the opener to the carding machines is effected automatically, and that the surplus is returned automatically, no hand labor whatever being required.

As above stated, the feeding mechanism for each carding machine includes a hopper 20 which preferably is rectangular in horizontal cross section and increases gradually in cross sectional. area' from top to bottom, so as to compensate for the tendency of the cotton to pack and to enable it to move freely through the hopper under the influence of gravity at all times. The entire stack of cotton in the hopper rests on a pair of feed rolls 33-33, Figs. 3, 8 and 9. These rolls are of the fluted type common in this art, and they feed the cotton downwardly on to an inclined plate 34 which directs the cotton forward on to the regular feed plate 35, and under the feed roll 36. This feed plate and feed roll. and the parts to the right of them, as shown in Fig. 8, are parts of the regular carding machine. The feed roll 36 delivers'the cotton to the leader roll or licker-in 37 from which it is taken by the main carding cylinder or roll 38.

The rolls 33 and the plate 34 are supported in a casing 450 which is located at the lower end of the hopper 20, and the upper end of the hopper is pivoted or hinged to the lower side of the guideway 16, as indicated at 42, Figs. 3, 5 and 7. This construction permits the hopper to be swung out of its normal position, free of the feed rolls 33 and the adjacent parts, when this is desirable to facilitate the making of repairs or for any other reason. Normally the lower end of the hopper rests against a shoulder 41, Figs. 3 and 8. provided on the casing 40.

WVhen the machine stands still over night the cotton in the hopper tends to settle down, and in order to permit the flutfing up of this cotton, the hopper 20 is provided with a series of vertical slots 43, Figs. 3 and 5. These slots permit an operator to thrust a bar into the body of cotton near the lower end of the hopper and lift the cotton, thus loosening it up.

The driving mechanism for the feed rolls 33 38 is best shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, from which it will be seen that these rolls are geared together at 4.4., and the shaft of the roll 33 carries a pinion 45 which meshes with a gear 46 that is driven by a gear 41'? fast on the shaft of the feed roll 36. This feed roll is driven by a bevel gear 48 meshing with a draft pinion or change gear 49 fast on the side shaft 50. The hopper feed rolls 33-33 rotate at a fixed speed relationship to the regular feed roll 36 and the gearing of these rolls together and the driving of all three of these rolls from the change gear 49, is of advantage since it eliminates the necessity of making adjustment of speed in the new feeding mechanismprovided by this invention when the draft of the machine is changed, the regular adjustments only being required.

As above stated, it has always been cus tomary' heretofore to feed cotton to a carding machine in the form of a lap, and it has been considered impossible to feed loose cotton to a carding machine and still produce a sliver of satisfactory character. We have found, however, that an arrangement such as that shown will handle loose cotton satisfactorily, feeding it to the carding ma chine in such a manner that a sliver sufficiently uniform for most purposes is produced. An important factor in the production of an even sliver, however, consists in maintaining a constant quantity of cotton bearing on the rolls 33. This is accomplished in the mechanism shownby supplying cotton to the upper end of each hopper as fast as it is fed out of the bottom thereof, each hopper being kept filled at all times. It. should be observed that in the arrangement shown a continuous stream of cotton is fed from the opening machine to the carding machine, this cotton being picked and loosened up during its travel between the opener and the card. The entire operation is automatic and requires a minimum of attention or supervision. By feeding a surplus of cotton to the distributing belts, and by them to the hoppers. a content quantity of cotton is kept in feeding position at all times at each carding machine, and this result is accomplished, by very simple machinery. The feeding of a constant stream of cotton to the cards also is of advantage when compared with the practice of feeding laps, since no interruption in the feeding operation is required and the handling of the laps is eliminated. When laps are fed to a card and the lap end is allowed to run through the feed rolls, the tail end of the lap feeds to the licker-in in a bunch which is liable to jam the wires of the card clothing. The feeding mechanism provided by this invention avoids any possibility of damage from this cause. This. arrangement also has the further advantage of effecting atremendous saving in equip-' ment and of reducing very substantially the labor required either to feed carding nlachines or to work cotton from a raw condi- 'tion into the form of a sliver.

will be evident that the invention may be embodied in many forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope thereof. In fact, installations made in accordance with this invention necessarily will vary considerably to accommodate the machines and conditions found in different. mills.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim as new is: v

1. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine, and means for continuously feeding loose cotton to said machine under a substantially constant pressure.

2. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine, and mechanism for continuously feeding loose cotton to said machine includingmeans for maintaining a substantially constant quantity of cotton in feeding position.

3. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine, a cotton picking mechanism, and means for automatically feeding the cotton from said picking mechanism to said carding machine including means for maintaining a substantially constant quantity of cotton in feeding position at the carding machine. I

4. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine, a cotton opening machine, and automatic mechanism for feeding cotton from said opening machine to said carding machine including means for maintaining a substantially con stant quantity of cotton in feeding position at the carding machine.

5. Ina cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding m,achine,-a cotton opening machine, automatic mechanism for feeding cotton from said opening machine to said carding machine, and means for picking the cotton as it travels from said opening machine to: said carding machine.

6. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine, and mechanism for feeding loose cotton to said machine including a hopper for holding a supply of cotton in feeding position and a .feed roll for feeding cotton out of the bottom of said hopper, and means for keeping said hopper filled to a constant height.

'7. In a cotton working ap )aratus, the con'ibimition of a carding mac ine, mechanism for feeding loose cotton to said machine including a hopper for holding a supply of cotton in feeding position and a pair of food rolls for feeding cotton out of the bottom of said hopper, and automatic means for keeping said hopper tilled completely at substantially all times. i

8. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine, mechanism for feeding a continuous stream of loose cotton to said machine, said mechanism including a. pair of feed rolls and means for maintaining a stack of cotton of substantially constant volume pressing on said rolls.

9. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine, mechanism for feeding a continuous stream of loose cotton to said machine, said mechanism including a pair of feed rolls and means for imiintaining a substantially constant pres sure of cotton on said rolls.

10. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding mac line having driving mechanism including a change gear, and. mechanism for feeding loose cot-ton to said machine including a hopper, feed rolls for feeding cotton out of the bottom of said hopper toward said machine, and connections between said feed rolls and said gear for driving said rolls.

11. In a cotton Working apparatus, the comb nation of a carding machine and mechanism for feeding loose cotton to said machine including a hopper for holding a supply of cotton, feed rolls, located at the bottom of the hopper and arranged to feed cotton therefrom, and additional means for supplying cotton to the top of the hopper substantially as fast as it is removed from the bottom thereof.

12. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine and mechanism for feeding loose cotton to said machine including a substantially upright hopper increasing gradually in cross sectional area from the upper part thereof toward the lower end thereof, means for delivcring cotton to the upper end of said hopper, and additional. means for feeding cotton out of the lower end of the hopper, said hopper having vertical. slots in its walls.

13. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine and mechanism for feeding loose cotton to said machine including an upright hopper, a pair of feed rolls at the lower end of said hopper arranged to feed the cotton out of the hopper, an inclined feed plate located below said rolls, an additional feed roll toward which the cotton is directed by said plate, and a continuously operating mechanism for delivering cotton to the upper end of said hopper.

141. In a cotton working apparatus, the combination of a carding machine and mechanism for supplying loose cotton to said machine comprising an upwardly eX- tcnding hopper, means located at the lower end of said hopper for feeding cotton therefrom, a guideway into which the upper end of said hopper opens, and means for moving cotton along said guideway across the upper end of said hopper whereby the cotton will drop into said hopper and keep the hopper substantially full.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of. a cotton working machine, a guideway for conducting a stream of loose cotton, means for moving cotton along said guideway, and a hopper mounted immediately below said guideway for movement into and out of its operative position, said guideway having a hole through the floor thereof to permit cotton to drop therethrough into said hopper.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of cotton working machines, a conveyor for distributing cotton to said machines, an additional machine for preparing the cotton for distribution, a second conveyor for carrying the cotton from said preparing machine to said distributing conveyor, and automatic means for returning surplus cotton from both of said conveyors to said preparing machine.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names to this specification.

LOREN W. PENNEY. HERBERT E. CHILD. 

